CIC Normandy Channel Race gearing up for a new participation record

15th Normandy Channel Race start © Jean-Marie LIOT / CIC NCR2024

An annual event central to Class40

When registration closed on 1 April, 33 Class40s were signed up with a handful of other entries still being finalised and likely to join the fray. As a result, the event is gearing up for a new participation record with some 30 competitors currently due to be on the starting line of this 16th edition of the CIC Normandy Channel Race. A perfect illustration of the appeal of Class40, with around ten boats launched over the past year, it also demonstrates the pivotal role of the Norman event within the Class's offshore racing landscape. In fact, the Normandy Channel Race has become so popular that out of the 20 most recent Class40s fit to sail, only 3 are currently missing from the 2025 line-up for this event!

A slew of new boats and new projects

For 3 of the recently launched projects, this event will herald their racing debut: Musa 40 EKINOX No.211 is skippered by Benoit Sineau from the Mini 6.50 universe, No.209 is helmed by Corentin Douguet and Axel Tréhin and is the first of the formidable Lombard Yacht Design Lift V3s, while the new No.208 ZEISS Mach 40.6 is skippered by Thimoté Polet.

Seven other recent projects are also set to compete in the 2025 event: Thomas Jourdren and Cédric de Kervenoael on boat No.191 NST CABINET Z, the 'Professor' Michel Desjoyeaux, double champion of the Vendée Globe, sailing with Alexandre Le Gallais on No.190 TRIMCONTROL, Pep Costa and Pablo Santurde Del Arco on No.181 VSF SPORTS, Irish sailor Pamela Lee and American Jay Thompson on boat No.178 #EMPOWHER, No.180 AQUALIA - TYROLIT sailed by Italians Matteo Sericano and Francesco Rosati, Yves Courbon and Jérôme Ragimbeau on No.177 OCEAN CONNECT, and Nicolas Lemarchand and Matthieu Derenne on No.154 WEEECYCLING. Also worth a mention is boat No.4 JUFOSA, winner of the first Route du Rhum for Class40s in 2006, which has been upgraded by German sailor Dirk Eggers. Finally, a special shout-out for Ian Lipinski (CREDIT MUTUEL) and Alberto Riva, who will be sailing the CIC Normandy Channel Race and the all-new CIC MED CHANNEL RACE back to back.

France-wide coverage stepped up with LA CHAINE L'EQUIPE

For the 3rd consecutive year, a comprehensive device for following the race has been organised with LA CHAINE L'ÉQUIPE with the support of the CIC. In addition to the daily minute-report throughout the 9-day event on the L'EQUIPE.FR website, there will be live coverage of the start for 1hr15' from 13:45 to 15:00 hrs local time on Sunday 25 May with commentary from Louis Duc, accompanied on set by the channel's journalists. Just back from a fantastic Vendée Globe, Louis will be right at home commentating on a race he has competed in no fewer than 9 times, bagging a memorable 2nd place in 2020, just 6" shy of the top spot! Furthermore, since you can't stop a winning team, a 3rd device for following the event launches this year with a study of the ranking every weekday during the race, plus a live interview with a skipper at the end of the day in the L'EQUIPE DE CHOC broadcast. As is the case every year, this immersive coverage will be complemented by the minute report on FRANCE 3 NORMANDIE over the 12 days of the event, together with radio coverage from ICI.

An exciting regional event with 2 event highlights for the public

Thanks to the extensive dredging of the Bassin St Pierre, funded by the local authorities, the CIC Normandy Channel Race is once again able to accommodate large old sailing ships. As such, the Spanish galleon, NAO VICTORIA will be alongside Quai Vendeuvre and will open to the public from Wednesday 21 May to Sunday 25 May. She is a replica of one of the 5 craft, which took part in Magellan's first round the world expedition from 1519 to 1522, a voyage considered by many to be the greatest maritime, geographical and scientific achievement of all time. The replica itself is circumnavigating the globe between 2024 and 2026 and is proving to be one of the most popular historical vessels at large gatherings. On top of this, on the afternoon n Wednesday, May 21, the City of Caen and the event village will host the arrival of the 4th edition of LA BONNE ECHAPPÉE in the afternoon. Supported by the CIC, the bike ride connects Bordeaux to Caen with the aim of raising awareness among young people about the importance of daily sports.

To find out more:

• www.fundacionnaovictoria.org/fr/nao-victoria
• lavieenrose.bzh/la-bonne-echappee
• List of entries here